The trials of book publishing

Steve Shear

SaddleBrooke resident Steve Shear published his second novel, “The Trials of Adrian Wheeler,” this spring. It tells the story of the lone survivor of a military mission and the deep trauma he harbors deep inside.

“The Trials of Adrian Wheeler”

Steve Shear is well known in the SaddleBrooke set as co-founder
with his wife, Susan, of the PrimeTime Players and the lively
interactive courtroom plays they create for the DesertView
Performing Arts Center.

As an internationally known intellectual property lawyer, he has
authored almost 1,000 patents and numerous legal opinions as well
as four treatises on intellectual property law.

The earlier works shook hands with his 10 years writing poetry
to establish a solid foundation for a new literary career as a
novelist. Shear’s book “The Trials of Adrian Wheeler,” his second
novel, was published this spring, and it seems there is no end to
the creative ride Shear is enjoying in retirement.

“I get up and write for seven hours a day, six days a week. I’m
very disciplined,” says Shear. “The characters take on a life of
their own. Sometimes I sit back and ask, ‘How did that
happen?’”

“The Trials of Adrian Wheeler” is his second novel. His first
novel, “Ira Neebest and the First Coming,” is waiting in the wings,
while a third one, “The Click,” is in the works.

“Trials” is a contemporary story about a private who returns
from Baghdad with a mangled knee and no left arm, ever mindful of a
tormented past and even bleaker future. His brother didn’t return
at all. One chilly morning in February both participated in a
reconnaissance mission that tragically failed. A mission where
innocent women and children died along with Wheeler’s brother and
other combatants.

As the sole survivor, Wheeler carries the details of that trauma
deep within his subconscious, and drinks excessively in hopes of
hiding from the boogeymen that torment his dreams.

When he begins to turn things around and take control of his
life, he’s charged with murdering the innocent women and children.
Wheeler finds himself the center of the most important
court-martial trial of the Iraqi war; his only hope is to move
beyond his trauma and the terrible secret that lies deep within the
cellar of his psyche.

The intense storyline intrigued publisher Lisa Smith.

“I selected Steve’s book because he has a fresh voice and the
story is well-written. And despite disagreeing with the political
views expressed in “The Trials of Adrian Wheeler,” I still found
the story line compelling, and the characters endearing, each in
their own unique fashion. I believe readers will feel the same way.
It also helped that in our correspondence, Steve himself came
across as quite the charismatic character,” said Smith, whose
company L&L Dreamspell published Shear’s novel.

The book took two years to write. Now the good reviews and
excitement “Trials” is creating is energizing Shear for his third
effort, “The Click.”

Despite his busy writing schedule, Shear still finds time to
work the publicity circuit for “Trials.” He’s not entirely
comfortable marketing himself or his work, but he recognizes that
self-promotion is part of the publishing world. He’s been
interviewed online, on radio, and in print.